After an historical overview of the conflict in the Central African Republic (CAR), this briefing documents and explores the international response to the crisis, mainly covering the period between the Séléka's rise to power in March 2013 and April 2014, when the UN Security Council passed resolution 2149 to establish the UN operation MINUSCA (Mission multidimensionnelle intégrée des Nations Unies pour la stabilisation de la République centrafricaine). The briefing specifically seeks to scrutinize relations between the various stakeholders involved in crisis solution, including international and regional organizations, such as the UN, African Union and Communauté Économique des Etats de l'Afrique Centrale (ECCAS) and individual States, in particular Chad and France. Notes, ref., sum. [ASC Leiden abstract]